"The History of the Standard Oil Company" is an exposé about the Standard Oil Company, run by oil tycoon John D. Rockefeller, the richest figure in American history. The inspiration behind this book was largely fueled by author's childhood experiences. Her father worked for Standard Oil and lived through what she called "hate, suspicion, and fear that engulfed the community." As a direct witness to the schemes and horizontal integration of John D. Rockefeller and his associates, Ida Tarbell began building the foundations of "The History of the Standard Oil Company" early on, using her own discontent as a starting point. This book inspired many other journalists to write about trusts and large businesses that attempted to gain monopolies in various industries.

Ida Minerva Tarbell (1857 – 1944) was an American writer, investigative journalist, biographer and lecturer. She was one of the leading muckrakers of the Progressive Era and a pioneer of the investigative journalism.